Tony Knowles on Civil Rights

2004 former Democratic Challenger for Senate (AK; previously served as Governor)

No special legislative session on same-sex health benefits

Asked about Gov. Frank Murkowski’s call for a special legislative session on same-sex health benefits, Knowles said the session is unnecessary.
But Palin said the question was not simply about health care benefits, it was an extension of voters’ definition of marriage as between a man and a woman.

Don’t deny healthcare benefits to homosexual couples

Here’s what Tony Knowles has to say about same-sex marriage. Knowles says the state should be looking for ways to increase health care, not deny it, and the Supreme Court made the right call in allowing benefits for homosexual couples. “Two people who
are obeying the law should be protected by it,” he said. Knowles said he believes that some people choose to be gay, some simply are and that he’s fine with both. “It’s part of their rights as a human being.”

Marriage definition should be by states, not US Constitution

News-Miner: Do you think it is discriminatory to deny same-sex couples access to marriage?

Knowles: I believe marriage is a union between a man and a woman and while I was governor, Alaskans voted to define marriage as such. I oppose amending the
U.S. Constitution along these lines since federal amendments should guarantee our rights, not limit them. Additionally, the 10th Amendment clearly gives states the responsibility to decide such matters and Alaskans have spoken.

Source: Q&A by Fairbanks Daily News-Miner
Aug 1, 2004

Oppose the Patriot Act-it undermines freedoms

Knowles believes that, unfortunately, the PATRIOT Act is being used to undermine the very freedoms it was designed to protect. Knowles strongly believes that we need to control the federal government from investigating individuals without
notice or proper cause. Knowles agrees with the Alaska state legislature’s resolution “enforcing the protection of individual liberties for all Alaskans in the face of intrusive federal actions taken since 9/11.”

Source: Campaign website, TonyKnowles.com
Jun 30, 2004

Support principles embodied in the Equal Rights Amendment.

Knowles adopted the National Governors Association policy:

In 1976 the National Governors Association expressed support for ratification and implementation of the Equal Rights Amendment, which would constitutionally guarantee full citizenship rights and opportunities for women. In 1982 the drive for ratification fell short, and efforts to initiate the amendatory process were taken.

The National Governors Association reaffirms its support for the principles embodied in the Equal Rights Amendment, i.e., that equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any state on the basis of gender.